Trump's tearful executive assistant tells trial Melania was the 'one in charge' and reveals details of their 'special relationship' when the Stormy Daniels story was coming out

Donald Trump's former executive assistant has revealed that Melania Trump was 'definitely the one in charge' in her marriage to Donald Trump.

In dramatic testimony to Trump's hush money trial Madeleine Westerhout said the former first couple had a 'special relationship' founded on 'mutual respect'.

When he was president Trump would call his wife from the Oval Office and ask her to look down from a window in the White House residence.

And when he was leaving on a helicopter he would call her to 'check in'.

Madeleine Westerhout watches as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with North Korean defectors in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC on Friday, Feb. 02, 2018

Madeleine Westerhout is seen with President Donald Trump in one of her Twitter photos

Westerhout gave evidence in a Manhattan courtroom soon after Stormy Daniels, the former porn star who was paid $130,000 by Trump's former 'fixer' Michael Cohen.

Trump denies 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an alleged affair with Daniels.

Westerhout broke down in tears on the witness stand as she also recounted how making indiscreet comments at a dinner with journalists had led to her leaving her job in the White House.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump watches as Former Director of Oval Office Operations Madeleine Westerhout testifies during his criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Melania Trump listens as her husband outgoing US President Donald Trump addresses guests at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on January 20, 2021

The cover of Madeleine Westerhout's book 'Off the Record' about her time working for Trump at the White House

As Trump looked on from the defense table she answered questions about the former first couple's marriage and how it had been impacted by Daniels' claims. 

She said nothing appeared to have changed in the Trumps' relationship.

Westerhout said: 'I believe they have a relationship of mutual respect. I just found their relationship really special. He cares a lot about her opinion There was no one else who could put him in his place.

'He was my boss but she was definitely the one in charge I remember thinking their relationship was really special. They laughed a lot when she came into the Oval Office.'

She went on: 'He once in a while would tell me to call her and let her know was running late, just like any other marriage. 

'She’d text me 'It’s past dinner time, when’s my husband coming home?'.'

President Donald Trump and first Lady Melania Trump participate in an event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 04, 2020 in Washington, DC

Former President Donald Trump, right, stands with his wife, Melania Trump, as they arrive for a GOP fundraiser, Saturday, April 6, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla

Madeleine Westerhout is seen with the Thanksgiving turkey in one of her Twitter photos, posted November 21, 2017

Westerhout told the court she would sometimes look into the Oval Office and see Trump on the phone.

She said: 'I could figure out he was on the phone with Mrs Trump. He would say (to Mrs Trump) honey come over to the window (in the residence). He would say come to the window and (they would) wave to each other.

'When he was boarding Marine One on the South Lawn he would call Mrs Trump and say honey I’m about to board. I thought it was funny, of course she knows his schedule but he wanted to check in.' 

Westerhout said working for Trump was 'amazing'.

She told the court: 'He never once made me feel like I didn't deserve that job, especially in an office filled with older men. 

'He was a really good boss who respected me and my job. I found him very enjoyable to work for.'

Madeleine Westerhout became tearful on the stand

Stormy Daniels testifies during Former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Stormy Daniels with lawyer Clark Brewster at the Trump hush money trial

She described how she had to leave her job at the White House after attending what she thought was am off-record dinner.

'I said some things I should not have said,' Westerhout told the court. 'Ultimately, it cost me my job and I’m very regretful of my youthful indiscretion. But I’ve learned a lot from my experience and I’ve grown a lot since then.'

She wiped away tears as she recounted the experience, and told how she had written a book to 'process what I’d been through'.

'I wanted to document for myself and my family the incredible experience I had working in the White House,' she said.

Former President Donald Trump gestures as he walks to the courtroom following a break in his trial at Manhattan criminal court Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York

Donald Trump's personal secretary Madeleine Westerhout, left, and White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the White House in 2018,

Stormy Daniels leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after testifying at former US President Donald Trump's trial

She wanted to share with the American people 'the man I got to know'.

She said of Trump: 'II don't think he’s treated fairly and I wanted to tell that story.'

Westerhout also walked jurors through Trump's contact list from early 2017.

It included entries for Cohen and David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer who prosecutors have said helped the Trump campaign pay off people with potentially damaging stories to remain quiet before the 2016 election.